FITniche Honors Young Entrepreneurs

FITniche recently partnered with the Kids Market, where children are invited to flex their entrepreneurial muscles.

FITniche owner Rich Wills serves as one of the judges at the market, which is held on the first Sunday of every month. A winner is selected, and the prize is an item from his specialty running and fitness store.

The August winner was Shrisha Saravana, a 10-year-old who is on her way to success. As a budding entrepreneur from the Kids Market – an offshoot of the Fresh Market held in Hyde Park Village – Shrisha was selected by FITniche and market organizers as the Hyde Park Kids Business of the Month for August.

Shrisha designs and produces miniature Pet-in-a-Box sets – clay pets that come complete with a bed and a toy.  A year or so ago, Shrisha found some old clay in her room and started making the kits for friends.  It takes her about an hour to make a complete set. She soon discovered friends were willing to buy the one-of-a-kind sets from her for “school bucks” used to purchase special privileges at her school, Rolland Park Elementary. She’s been making them – and a healthy profit – ever since.

Shrisha says, “No two dogs should be alike!”  But beware if you visit her at the Kids Market.  She employs a brilliant strategy when plying her wares. 

“I go straight for the kids,” she says. “I don’t ask the adults anything. I let the kids sell my products to their parents.”  

This partnership began in July in Hyde Park, and plans are under way to start a market in Wesley Chapel, too.